King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands said Monday they were “deeply moved” by the death of Pope Francis, remembering him as a man who radiated compassion and lived in service of the vulnerable.
The Dutch monarchs praised the pope’s unshakable faith and commitment to compassion and humanity. “From a rock-solid belief in God’s love, he championed compassion and humanity.
The monarchs described the late pope as someone who “embodied the listening and loving Church and succeeded in winning the hearts of many—both within the Roman Catholic Church and beyond. We cherish his memory with gratitude.”
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni mourned the loss of “a great man, a great shepherd” and expressed deep sorrow.
“I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice, his teachings, which never ceased, not even during times of trial and suffering,” she said. “We say goodbye to the holy father with a heart full of sadness.”
The presidency office of Argentina said it “deeply regretted” the death of the first Argentinian leader of the Catholic Church.
President Javier Milei, who previously clashed with the pope, praised Francis’s focus on interreligious dialogue, encouragement of spirituality among the young, and focus on cost-cutting in the Vatican.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Francis’s life was defined by his efforts to build a fairer and more peaceful world. “He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate,” she said.
The White House shared a tribute on social media, writing “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis” alongside a photo of the pope meeting President Donald Trump and the first lady.
Trump later called the late pontiff “a good man who loved the world” and “especially loved people that were having a hard time”. He also confirmed that he will attend Francis’s funeral, in what will likely be the first foreign trip of his second presidency.
President Vladimir Putin expressed his “sincere condolences”, praising the efforts of Francis to strengthen ties between the Russian Orthodox and Catholic Churches. The Moscow Patriarchate echoed the sentiment, saying the late pontiff had played a key role in advancing dialogue between the two branches of Christianity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope.”
President Emmanuel Macron praised the late pontiff for his enduring solidarity with society’s most vulnerable. “In this time of war and brutality, he had a sense for the other, for the most fragile,” Macron said, commending his humility.